A video clip of Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates discussing the early days of the company and the crucial role Indian engineers played in its development has recently gone viral. The resurfacing of this clip coincides with debates surrounding H-1B visa fees, adding another layer to the discussion about foreign talent in the US.
In the video, taken from a speech Gates delivered at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi in February 2024, he recalls Microsoft's struggle to recruit top-tier engineering professionals when it was a young company with only a few hundred employees. A senior colleague suggested recruiting fresh graduates from the IITs in India. Ultimately, Microsoft hired approximately 15 engineers from India, a decision Gates described as "a phenomenal thing". He noted that these engineers significantly strengthened Microsoft's technical foundation and contributed to innovations that shaped the modern digital world.
Gates' revelation that the hiring of Indian engineers was a pivotal moment in Microsoft's history has sparked renewed discussions, especially in light of increased H-1B visa fees. Recently, the US President Donald Trump announced an increase in the H-1B visa application fee, with the revised regulation setting the fee for a fresh application at $100,000. The viral video has resurfaced amidst these discussions about the future of the H-1B visa program.
The decision to hire Indian engineers wasn't without its critics. In India, some media outlets lamented it as a "brain drain," fearing the loss of the country's brightest minds. Simultaneously, concerns were raised in the United States that foreign workers were taking American jobs, a sentiment that continues to surface in today's immigration discussions.
Looking back after more than 25 years, Gates views the decision to hire those 15 engineers as both fruitful and transformative. These engineers not only bolstered Microsoft's technical capabilities but also went on to become leaders in the global technology industry.
Bill Gates has maintained a positive relationship with India throughout his career. In June 2024, he spoke about his early Microsoft days and the impact of AI on various industries. While he acknowledged AI's potential to revolutionize many sectors, he doesn't believe it will replace software engineers anytime soon. He also praised Satya Nadella, the current CEO of Microsoft, who is of Indian origin.
Microsoft has a significant presence in India, including a Development Center (IDC) in Hyderabad that celebrated its 25th anniversary in February 2024. The IDC has played a crucial role in shaping products such as Azure, Windows, Office, Bing, Copilot, and other AI applications. Satya Nadella has emphasized India's potential in the development space, predicting that India will overtake the US as the largest developer community on GitHub.
